Recently, I enjoyed lunch and conversation with a group of ministers of education and Bob Dale, formerly assistant executive-director of the Virginia Baptist Mission Board. As we talked, one minister commented on the "busyness" of our churches. As he did so, I was reminded of the way one minister I know described the incessant activity of his church family. As he put it, "they're like ants on an ant hill."

I went on to share with the group a discovery I had made since no longer ministering on a church staff. While on staff, I just assumed the church was the center of everyone's universe. It certainly was the center of mine, sometimes tempting me to neglect the important relationships in my life. With that mindset, it's easy to fall into the trap of "measuring" a person's spiritual commitment by their attendance at all the events offered by the church.

What I've discovered is that persons have a life outside the church, too. At least we should hope and pray they do! After all, the world isn't touched for Christ by the fullness of our church calendars. Instead, it's impacted by Christians investing themselves in the lives of people in their neighborhood, workplace, schools, sports leagues, and so on.
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In America, the first association of Baptist churches was formed in Philadelphia in 1707. The Charleston Association, formed in 1751, was the first association in the southern colonies. Associations were formed from a desire to establish doctrinal parameters and from a desire for fellowship with like-minded believers. Associations also provided advice on Baptist practices, helped churches find properly credentialed ministers, and occasionally disciplined ministers. Associations enabled churches in a particular geographical area to cooperate in mission, educational, and benevolence ventures.

By the late 1700s, associations were focusing more on mission work, and new Baptist churches were springing up all along the Atlantic seaboard, and even West of the Alleghenies.
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Mentow's Vacation Bible School will be June 24-28.

Staunton has called Jonathan Autrey as part-time Youth Pastor. He is a student at Liberty Theological Seminary where his wife, Rebecca, is employed. They have a son, Elijah.

On May 13, Suck Spring voted to call Rev. Michael Cox as pastor. Both he and his wife, Connie, are native Virginians.

Suck Spring's Vacation Bible School will begin on Sunday evening, July 22.
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Click here for a PDF Registration form.

As you plan your summer activities, please keep this week in mind. (We ask that at least one adult [not necessarily the same one each day] from each participating church plan to accompany the children as they rotate through the various music opportunities that week.) More details will follow at our Website and in upcoming issues of The Spirit newsletter.

We thank Thaxton for hosting our meeting and for providing the delicious fellowship meal prior to the meeting.
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